Storage of hydrocarbon oils



y 1932. R. E. WILSON 1,859,322

STORAGE OF HYDROCARBON OILS Filed July 5, 1928 a iffi i I if @J I, I 4 15 i :Illlllli tlllllllilli Patented May 24, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 ROBERT E. WILSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL COMPANY, OF WRITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA STORAGE OF HYDBOCARBON OILS Application filed July 5, 1928. Serial No. 290,538.

This invention relates to the storage of hydrocarbon oils and particularly hydrocarbon oils containing volatile fractions, for example, crude oil and gasoline.

The invention will readily be understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a preferred embodiment; and I Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the bracing between the weights 14.

Referring to said drawings, 10 is an inverted open container, preferably of substantially hemispherical shape. This container may suitably be constructed of relatively thin steel since it will normally be exposed to substantially equal pressures on either side. At an elevated position the container 10 is provided with a pipe 11 for the purpose of supplying hydrocarbon oils thereinto or withdrawing them therefrom. The pipe 11 is provided with a valve 12, and is adapted to be connected by a flexible conduit (not shown) to a source or receiver of oil.

Depending from the inverted container 10 are a plurality of legs 13. At theirlower ends the legs 13 are provided with suitable weights 14 which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the container 10 so as to rendcr it stable when immersed in water. The weights 14 may suitably be connected one to another with suitable bracings 15, and may suitably be constituted by masses of concrete which are cast in position so as to engage a leg 13 and the adjacent bracing members 15.

The mass of the weights 14 is preferably adjusted with relation to the mass of the apparatus as a whole and its capacity so that when the container is substantially filled with oil the whole device floats in the vwater exposing only a relatively small part above the surface thereof. When the oil is displaced by water it is intended that the weights14 will rest on the bottom. If desired, the weights 14 may be made of suflicient magnitude that the displacement of the water in the container 10 by oil will not cause said container to float.

V Whileoil may be supplied to the container 10 by pipe 11, it may also be supplied by any suitable pipe 16 which terminates under the open bottom of the container 10.

In operation the assembled storage container is placed in a lake or other suitable body of water with the weights 14 directed downwardly therein. Air is pumped into the container 10, if necessary, in order to make it float. The storage tank can now be towed to any position desired and the valve 12 opened so as to allow the air to escape. The tank will accordingly sink until the weights 14 rest on the bottom of the lake and the container 10 is'completely or substantially completely submerged. Thereafter oil may be supplied to the container 10 bypipes 11 or 16. Such oil will accumulate to the upper part of said container and displace the water therefrom. On withdrawal of the oil the water will again rise in the container 10.

In this method of storage the body of oil in the container 10 is maintained at a low temperature since it is completely or substantially completely submerged in the water. Further no vapor space is permitted above the oil so that breathing or other losses are substantially avoided.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the details of a specific embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative upon the scope of the invention except in so far as they are included in the accompanying claims. p

I claim:

1. An apparatus for storing hydrocarbon oils comprlsing an open bottomed container having liquid-tight walls, weights attached to the lower portlon thereof to maintain same in stable equilibrium when immersed in wa ter so as to float therein and a conduit for withdrawing oil from the upper end of said container, said weights being of such mass that the bell may float above the surface slightly when substantially filled with oil,

said weights normally resting upon the bottom.

2. A free floating storage container for hydrocarbon oils comprising an inverted liquid-tight bell adapted to be immersed in water, weights mounted on the lower portion of said bell so as to maintain same in stable equilibrium and a valved conduit connecting into the upper portion of said bell for withdrawing oil therefrom, said weights being of such mass that the bell floats above the surface slightly when substantially filled with oil and said weights rest upon the bottom when the oil is substantially displaced by water.

8. A free floating storage container for hydrocarbon oils comprising an inverted liquidtight bell adapted to be immersed in water, rigid legs secured to the lower portion of the sides of said bell and protruding to a point substantially below the lower edge of the bell, weights secured to said legs at a point below the lower edge of the bell, and a 20 valved conduit connecting into the upper por- 'tion of the bell for withdrawing oil from the interior thereof, said weights being of such mass that a portion of the bell floats above the surface when substantially filled with oil and said weights rest upon the bottom when ;the oil is substantially displaced by water, said legs functioning to space the lower edge tof the bell f. 1n the bottom when the weights are resting thereon.

4. A free-floating storage container for hydrocarbon oil comprising an inverted liquid tight bell adapted to be immersed in water and provided with weights depending from its lower edge, the combined weight of said bell and said weights being such that the upper portion of the bell floats above the surface of the water when substantially filled with oil and the weights normally rest upon the bottom.

5. A free-floating storage container for hydrocarbon oils comprising an inverted liquid tight bell adapted to be immersed in water and provided at its lower edge with depending fixed weights, and conduit means leading from the upper portion of the bell, the combined weight of said bell and said weights being substantially constant and such that it may float above the surface of the water slightly when substantially filled l i ith oil and normally rests upon the bottom.

;In testimony whereof I have hereunto set My hand and seal this 31st day of May, 1928. ROBERT E. lVILSON. 

